ELCA bishop plans ecumenical prayer service in response to S.D. execution
by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service The Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl, bishop of the South Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said an ecumenical prayer service will be held at 9:30 p.m. in Sioux Falls Aug. 29, 30 minutes before the start of the planned execution...
ELCA Caribbean Synod Bishop Appoints Acting Bishop
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Margarita Martinez, bishop of the Caribbean Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has appointed the Rev. Francisco L. Sosa as acting bishop of the synod. She acted as she left Puerto Rico last week to travel to a local hospital for treatment...
Lutheran Leaders Must Be Involved in Response to HIV and AIDS
TORONTO (ELCA) -- The Global Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Campaign against HIV/AIDS began its first phase in 2002 "to promote churches getting more involved with HIV and AIDS activities, especially in regions of Africa and Asia," said Dr. Sheila Shyamprasad, the HIV and AIDS consultant to the LWF Department for...
Margarita Martinez, ELCA Caribbean Synod Bishop, Hospitalized
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Margarita Martinez, bishop of the Caribbean Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is hospitalized at a Chicago-area hospital where she is undergoing medical tests for an undisclosed condition. Martinez plans to name an acting bishop for the synod, as provided for in...
Lutheran Volunteers Continue to Make a Difference One Year After Hurricanes
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Since Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma struck the U.S. Gulf Coast nearly one year ago 15,000 volunteers have logged 600,000 hours of service, worth an estimated $10.5 million of rebuilding work. These volunteers worked on behalf of Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) to rebuild homes and communities in...
Lutherans Featured in NBC-TV Hunger Documentary
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutherans are prominently featured in a television documentary to be presented next month by the National Council of Churches USA (NCC). Joe Young, director for community development services for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Church in Society, and the Rev. David Beckmann, ELCA pastor and...
Opportunity Possible In Lebanon, According to ELCA-Supported Ministry
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Although fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah has ravaged and immobilized southern Lebanon, the Contact and Resource Center (CRC), Beirut, has managed to continue its mission of bringing together Christians, Muslims and others to meet the needs of people living with disabilities who are left vulnerable, physically...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Addresses Session of International AIDS Conference
TORONTO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Chicago, and president of the Lutheran World Federation, Geneva, addressed a session of the 2006 International AIDS Conference on Aug. 14. In response to HIV and AIDS, Christians are beginning to follow...
ELCA Videos Available on Google Video
by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service Video programs from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) can now be viewed and downloaded at "Google Video" on the Web, a free service that allows anyone to upload videos and search and play videos directly from Google Video. The ELCA has...
Susquehanna University professor Cyril Stretansky receives choral award
by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service Cyril M. Stretansky, director of choral activities, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pa., received the Elaine Brown Award for Choral Excellence at the summer conference of the American Choral Directors Association of Pennsylvania, held August 6-8 at The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pa. Named...
Lutheran Disaster Response Aids Flooded Areas in El Paso, Texas
by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) recovery efforts have begun in and around El Paso, Texas, after more than 15 inches of rain recently flooded the area and caused mud slides and falling rocks, said Heather L. Feltman, LDR executive director, in an Aug. 14...
Lutherans at Ecumenical Sessions Before 2006 International AIDS Conference
TORONTO (ELCA) -- Lutherans came from around the world to participate in an ecumenical pre-conference Aug. 10-11 at the University of Toronto in advance of the 2006 International AIDS Conference, Aug. 13-18 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The Christian Host Committee (Canada) and the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, based in...
2007 ELCA Health Care Rates to Increase About 7 Percent
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- As organizations struggle to find resources for health plan contribution rates, trustees of the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved an overall rate increase of about 7 percent for 2007. At its Aug. 5 meeting here, trustees approved the contribution rates...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Asks U.S. Religious Leaders to Call for Mideast Peace
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Out of concern for growing casualties and human suffering in the Middle East, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has asked other U.S. religious leaders to join him in calling for "the cessation of all violence, for an...
Lutheran World Relief President Wolford Resigns, Accepts New Role
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Kathryn Wolford, 48, resigned as president of Lutheran World Relief (LWR), Baltimore, effective Oct. 31 to become president of The McKnight Foundation, Minneapolis, starting Dec. 1. LWR is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, individuals and parish groups...
ELCA Presiding Bishop to Help Set Tone for International AIDS Conference
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and president of the Lutheran World Federation, will address a pre-conference of the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto. The conference, "Time to Deliver," will be Aug. 13-18 at the Metro Toronto Convention...
Lutheran author Marsha Hansen collaborates with musician Keith Richards
by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service Lutheran singer and author Marsha Hansen, El Paso, Texas, recently released a book and accompanying live recording titled "My Soul Is a Witness," a collaboration with her brother-in-law Keith Richards and daughter Jordan Hansen. Richards is rhythm guitarist of the rock band The...
Lutheran World Leader Joins in Call to End Middle East Violence
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The leaders of three global church organizations -- including the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation, Geneva -- have called for an end to the fighting in Lebanon and Israel and conflict in Gaza. The church leaders issued a joint public statement Aug....
ELCA Board of Pensions offers health campaigns
by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service The Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is sponsoring a variety of health initiatives in the next months, including "Here I Step: A Journey to Reformation," a six-week walking and wellness campaign, said Tammy Devine, ELCA Wellness Coordinator....
ELCA to Hold U.S. Farm Bill Listening Sessions
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ELCA) -- Staff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Washington Office will be touring the United States during the next few months, hosting listening sessions to help shape ELCA advocacy efforts around the U.S. Farm Bill. The Farm Bill is scheduled to come before the U.S....
